Literature and Poetry in the 20th Century encompasses a variety of stylistic shifts and literary movements. The principle that connects all of these is a rejection of the belief that the world is a rational place or that it follows a logical order. The 20th Century can essentially be divided into two primary periods: Modernism (pre-World War II) and Postmodern (post-World War II). Some principles and stylistic movements that defined the 20th Century in Literature are: Stream of Consciousness- a narrative mode that seeks to portray an individual's point of view by giving the written equivalent of the character's thought processes Modernism- a very broad movement in the arts that can emcompass many of the styles and principles listed on this page. One of the defining characteristics of modernism is self-consciousness which encourages playing with and deconstructing traditional literary form. The Lost Generation- this term, coined by Ernest Hemmingway (who was part of this movement), describes the generation of people who became disillusioned after witnessing the horrors of World War I. The authors of this movement express these feelings of meaninglessness and despair. Imagism (in poetry)- Poetry based on description rather than theme, and on the motto, "the natural object is always the adequate symbol." Surrealism- Originally a French movement, influenced by Surrealist painting, that uses surprising images and transitions to play off of formal expectations and depict the unconscious rather than conscious mind. Post-Modernism- The other broad movement of the arts in the 20th Century (post-World War II). Where as modernist literature often searches for meaning in a chaotic world post-modern literature generall eschews the possibility of meaning and mocks this quest for purpose. Post-modern literature also frequently blends traditionally "high" and "low" elements of a culture. Important Authors:
James Joyce- An Irish author who wrote Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysseys, and Finnegan's Wake
George Orwell- British author wrote 1984 and Animal Farm
Stream of Consciousness- a narrative mode that seeks to portray an individual's point of view by giving the written equivalent of the character's thought processes
Modernism- a very broad movement in the arts that can emcompass many of the styles and principles listed on this page. One of the defining characteristics of modernism is self-consciousness which encourages playing with and deconstructing traditional literary form.
The Lost Generation- this term, coined by Ernest Hemmingway (who was part of this movement), describes the generation of people who became disillusioned after witnessing the horrors of World War I. The authors of this movement express these feelings of meaninglessness and despair.
Imagism (in poetry)- Poetry based on description rather than theme, and on the motto, "the natural object is always the adequate symbol."
Surrealism- Originally a French movement, influenced by Surrealist painting, that uses surprising images and transitions to play off of formal expectations and depict the unconscious rather than conscious mind.
Post-Modernism- The other broad movement of the arts in the 20th Century (post-World War II). Where as modernist literature often searches for meaning in a chaotic world post-modern literature generall eschews the possibility of meaning and mocks this quest for purpose. Post-modern literature also frequently blends traditionally "high" and "low" elements of a culture.
Important Authors:
James Joyce- An Irish author who wrote Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysseys, and Finnegan's Wake
George Orwell- British author wrote 1984 and Animal Farm